Effective bowel management in spinal cord injury during inpatient rehabilitation: data from the Dutch spinal cord injury database.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective Observational Study. OBJECTIVES: To describe bowel management in individuals with a recently acquired spinal cord injury (SCI) both at admittance and discharge from first inpatient rehabilitation, and to determine factors that contribute to effective bowel management (EBM) at discharge. SETTING: Specialized rehabilitation centers in the Netherlands. METHODS: Data from the Dutch Spinal Cord Injury Database (DSCID) collected between 2015 and 2019 was used. EBM was defined by the variables of stool frequency and fecal incontinence. After univariate analysis, a multivariate regression analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Of 1,210 participants, 818 (68%) did not have EBM at admittance. At discharge, 308 (38%) did still not have EBM (in total 33% of all participants). The odds of having EBM at discharge was 2.82 times higher for participants with ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) D compared to those with AIS-A (95% CI: 1.38-5.78). Participants with non-traumatic SCI had higher odds of having EBM than those with traumatic SCI (OR: 0.59, 95% CI 0.38-0.91). Use of suppositories, small enema, medication influencing bowel function, and oral laxatives at admittance did not influence EBM significantly at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Bowel management improves during first inpatient rehabilitation. However, realizing EBM after a recently acquired SCI is a challenge. This endorses the importance of bowel management during inpatient rehabilitation, especially for people with AIS-A and non-traumatic etiology.

Functional independence of persons with long-standing motor complete spinal cord injury in the Netherlands.

Context/Objective: Since life expectancy of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) has improved, it is relevant to know whether this group is able to maintain functional abilities many years after onset of SCI. Objectives of this study were (1) to examine associations between time since injury (TSI) and functional independence in persons with long-standing SCI and (2) to explore associations between functional independence and level of injury, comorbidities, mental health, waist circumference and secondary health conditions (SHCs).Design: TSI-stratified cross-sectional study. Strata were 10-19, 20-29 and 30+ years.Setting: Community.Participants: 226 persons with long-standing SCI. Inclusion criteria: motor complete SCI; age at injury 18-35 years; TSI ≥ 10 years; current age 28-65 years; wheelchair dependency.Interventions: Not applicable.Outcome measures: The Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM) was administered by a trained research assistant. Level of injury, comorbidities, mental health, waist circumference and SHCs were assessed by a rehabilitation physician.Results: Mean TSI was 23.6 (SD 9.1) years. No significant differences in SCIM scores were found between TSI strata. SCIM scores were lower for persons with tetraplegia, autonomic dysreflexia, hypotension, more than four SHCs and a high waist circumference. In linear regression analyses, TSI nor age was associated with the SCIM total score. Only level of injury (ß = -0.7; P < .001) and waist circumference (ß = -0.1; P = .042) were independent determinants (explained variance 55%).Conclusion: We found no association between TSI and functional independence in persons with long-standing motor complete SCI. This study confirms the possible effect of overweight on functional independence.

Wheelchair exercise capacity in spinal cord injury up to five years after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the course and determinants of wheelchair exercise capacity in spinal cord injury up to 5 years after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, and to describe loss to follow-up. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study, with measurements at the start and discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, 1 and 5 years after discharge. SUBJECTS: A total of 225 wheelchair-dependent persons with spinal cord injury. METHODS: Random coefficient analysis of the course and determinants of peak aerobic power output (POpeak) and peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). RESULTS: A total of 162 participants attended 1 or more peak exercise tests and were analysed. Significant changes were found for both VO2peak and POpeak between start and 5 years after discharge, and discharge and 5 years after discharge. No significant changes were found for VO2peak and POpeak between 1 year and 5 years after discharge. Age, gender, level and completeness of lesion were determinants for level of VO2peak and age, gender, and level of lesion for level of POpeak. No significant determinants were found for the course of wheelchair exercise capacity. The 63 participants who were not analysed were older, and showed more persons with a tetraplegia. CONCLUSION: Wheelchair exercise capacity of persons with spinal cord injury stabilizes at between 1 and 5 years after discharge. The participants appear to be a positive selection of the total study group.

Return to work five years after spinal cord injury inpatient rehabilitation: is it related to wheelchair capacity at discharge?

OBJECTIVE: To describe the proportion of people with spinal cord injury who returned to work 5 years after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, and to investigate whether return to work is related to wheelchair capacity at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. DESIGN: Multi-centre prospective cohort study. SUBJECTS: A total of 103 participants with acute spinal cord injury at 8 Dutch rehabilitation centres, specialized in the rehabilitation of spinal cord injury. All participants were in paid employment before injury. METHODS: Main outcome measure was return to work for at least 1 h per week. The independent variables of wheelchair capacity were peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), peak aerobic power output (POpeak), and wheelchair skill scores (ability, performance time, and physical strain). Possible confounders were age, gender, lesion level and lesion completeness, and educational level. RESULTS: The proportion of participants who returned to work was 44.7%. After correction for the confounders, POpeak (p=0.028), ability score (p=0.022), performance time (p=0.019) and physical strain score (p=0.038) were significantly associated with return to work. VO2peak was not significantly associated with return to work. CONCLUSION: More than 40% of the participants were able to return to paid work within 5 years after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Return to work was related to wheelchair capacity at discharge. It is recommended to train wheelchair capacity during rehabilitation in the context of return to work, since the association with return to work is another benefit of the training of wheelchair capacity in addition to the improvement of mobility and functional independency.